Holidaying Whilst Pregnant: How to Look after Yourself

As you may already know, we are expecting a new baby in November, and we are really excited! We’ve been thinking a lot about how we are going to manage going on holiday with my growing baby bump. We have a holiday booked for July for Fuerteventura which we are all looking forward to, but know there are different things to consider when on holiday with a bump. Here are some tips on how best to look after yourself when you are pregnant on holiday.

Timing

Don’t just book a holiday in advance without considering where you will be in your pregnancy. The first trimester may leave you feeling exhausted and nauseous which doesn’t make for a good holiday! After 28 weeks, most airlines will want written confirmation from your doctor or midwife that says you are fit to fly, and by 34 or so week, some airlines may not permit you to fly at all, so book your holiday between 13 and 24 weeks, or check directly with your midwife and airline company if wanting to go later than this.

Destination

Now is not the best time to go on an 18 hour flight! Being pregnant doesn’t lend itself to long-haul flights, but there are plenty of places you can go that will still be a whole load of fun within a few hours flight. Look at what destinations might require you to get vaccinations and try to avoid these until after your baby is born.

Keep cool

It is important to make sure you don’t overheat, so stick to the shade where possible. Keep out of the sun when it is at its hottest and treat yourself to a personal fan to keep things cool. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated!

Accommodation

When it comes to booking the accommodation, you need to find the perfect balance between practicality and relaxation. For example, look for places that don’t have many stairs, or perhaps have a lift to get to the higher floors. You don’t want to be lugging suitcases up flights of stairs when you’re expecting. Although a hostel is great for a budget bohemian break, it’s not always the most suitable place for a pregnant woman!

Food and drink

Experiencing new food and drink and treating yourself is a great part of any holiday, but be sure to remember what you can and can’t eat when pregnant. Ensure that all meat is properly cooked and don’t drink from the tap. This also means you should avoid ice cubes in your drinks and even salads as they will be washed with tap water.

Don’t burn

Your skin is more sensitive when you are pregnant so be sure to slather on the sunscreen, especially on your bump! Wear loose, light clothing to cover yourself up and protect yourself from the sun. A hat is also a good idea, and will provide some shade if you are somewhere particularly sunny.

As long as you are prepared and have considered all these factors, you can have a well-deserved holiday. Do you have any top tips for going on holiday while pregnant? Let me know in the comments!

Some brilliant tips here. I travelled with my first when I was 28-33 weeks (United Airlines at the time possibly still do? allowed up until 33 weeks maximum) I flew back from the USA and toured around the UK. Possibly a little too late in my pregnancy for such a huge journey but after having baby I was really pleased that I had that quality time with family and friends just before baby came along and changed everything forever!!

It’s so important to put yourself first. Babies soak in all of their mothers positivity and I’m sure going away did so much good for your mind body & soul! I’d be sure to remember this when it’s my time!

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Welcome to Momma Mack Blog. I’m Lucy, Wife (to Jimmy) and Mommy to Emelia (Mini – 6 going on 16) and Edison (Baby Mack) I decided to start this blog to chart our family adventures, the good and the ugly and to show that life with little ones in tow can still involve exploring new places.